Racing Around: Mild weather to blame for resurfacing issues at Fonda Speedway

After the 2023 racing season, Fonda Speedway promoter Brett Deyo had truckloads of clay brought in and dispersed around the half-mile.

Promoters have told me in the past that they like to bring the clay in after the season is done, spread it and let the snow help pack and settle the clay before working it in the spring.

Well, that did not happen this year.

The combination of a mild winter, wet spring and an unusually large amount of rocks in the fresh clay forced the Track of Champions to cancel a pair of practice sessions and the opening night race program featuring the ‘Jumpin’” Jack Johnson Memorial.

“Last fall, we put approximately 10 inches of clay all the way around the speedway,” Deyo said. “This spring, the track has been tilled, worked multiple times with equipment to remove stone from the clay, packed, rolled and worked up again. It has been a process with the new clay and the track crew needed extra time to get it right.”

With a favorable forecast for this weekend, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds speedway is set to open the gates for its 73rd season, featuring a full race card of Modifieds, Crate 603 Sportsman, Pro Stocks, Limited Sportsman and 4-cylinders plus the Mohawk Valley Vintage Dirt Modified Series will run its Frank Trinkaus Memorial event.

The pits are scheduled to open at 3 p.m., with the grandstands opening at 4 p.m. and the cars taking to the speedway for warm-ups at 6 p.m.

The Johnson Memorial is rescheduled for Thursday, May 20, to kick off Memorial Day Weekend.

SHEPPARD WINS SEASON OPENER AT U-R

Chilly weather and a slick track did not keep Matt Sheppard from Victory Lane Sunday afternoon at Utica-Rome Speedway.

The defending track champion started fifth in the 27-car field for the rescheduled 30-lap, $6,800-to-win Alex Friesen Remembered and passed early-race leader Mike Mahaney on lap 11.

Sheppard survived a late-race restart that brought Mat Williamson and Rocky Warner up to his back bumper. Warner got past Williamson on the restart, but slid up the track in Turn 1, thwarting his chance to challenge Sheppard for the lead and allowing Williamson to regain the runner-up spot.

For Sheppard, the win was his third-straight Alex Friesen Remembered victory, and his eight win overall of the season.

“This race has definitely been good to us,” Sheppard said in Victory Lane.

Williamson placed second, followed by Warner, Alex Yankowski and Michael Maresca in the top five. Mahaney, Pat Ward, Jack Lehner, Bobby Hackel IV and Tim Sears Jr. made up the second five.

Stewart Friesen, who was driving an Alex Friesen tribute car, started 15th and used the high side of the speedway to get up to sixth before heading pit side with mechanical issues with three laps to go.

Sunday’s event drew 44 Modifieds, 45 602 Sportsman and 17 Pro Stocks to the Vernon speedway.

After an opening-lap caution, Butchie Irwin made the most of his front-row starting spot to lead all 25 laps of the Crate 602 Sportsman feature to collect the $1,000 first-place money.

Matt Janczuk started 15th and picked his way through the field to finish second with Tyler Corcoran, Seth Martin and Connor Prokop completing the top five.

Building on his successful 2023 season, Luke Horning picked up the victory in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature.

Brett Belden briefly put his car in front with a lap to go as Horning got high in Turn 4. Horning regained control of his ride to race the final lap side-by-side with Belden before pulling ahead in the final turn for the win.

A.J. Walters finished third, with Devon Camenga and Shane Playford rounding out the top five.

Josh Coonradt made the move from the Pro Stock division to the Limited Sportsman and Sunday, picked up his first win in the division at Utica-Rome, leading the 15-lap feature from flag-to-flag.

Eric Jensen placed second, followed by Carson Rothwell, Andrew MacFadden and Bobby Newman in the top five.

Corey Valade beat out Dan Valade for the overall and dual-cam 4-cylinder feature win, while Wayne Russell Jr. edged Bruce Liddle for the single-cam victory.

Utica-Rome will host a full regular race program Friday, with the Tobias Slingshots added to the program.

UTICA-ROME SPEEDWAY RESULTS

SUNDAY

“Honoring Alex” 3 Bastards Brewing Modified Feature Finish (30 laps): 1. Matt Sheppard; 2. Mat Williamson; 3. Rocky Warner; 4. Alex Yankowski; 5. Michael Maresca; 6. Mike Mahaney; 7. Pat Ward; 8. Jack Lehner; 9. Bobby Hackel IV; 10. Tim Sears Jr.; 11. Michael Trautschold; 12. Billy Decker; 13. Justin Wright; 14. Brandon Loucks; 15. Ronnie Johnson; 16. Ryan Odasz; 17. Addison Bowman; 18. Alan Barker; 19. Cody Clark; 20. Stewart Friesen; 21. Jimmy Phelps; 22. Jeremy Slosek; 23. Demetrios Drellos; 24. Alex Payne; 25. Tim Fuller; 26. Josh Allen; 27. Zachary Payne.

Did Not Qualify: Willy Decker; Chris Curtis; Matt Caprara; Dalton Slack; JaMike Sowle; Randy Shantel; Jim Walsh; Danny Creeden; Tanner Van Doren; Brian Calabrese; Jessica Friesen; Brandon Walters; Daniel Morgiewicz Jr.; Jason Reome; Andy Graves; Jim Gould; Tim Mayne

Taylor’s Trailers Crate 602 Sportsman Feature Finish (25 laps): 1. Butchie Irwin; 2. Matt Janczuk; 3. Tyler Corcoran; 4. Seth Martin; 5. Connor Prokop; 6. Brendan Gibbons; 7. Zach Sobotka; 8. Mike Richmond; 9. Payton Talbot; 10. Blaine Klinger; 11. Mike Fowler; 12. David Rogers; 13.Chip Constantino; 14. David Hackett; 15. Nick Zielinski; 16. Nicholas Root; 17. Clayton Dumond; 18. Allan Hodge; 19. Shawn Frost; 20. David Dickey; 21. Jared LaBagh; 22. Jonny Feagles; 23. Ed Lukas; 24. Mike Nagel Jr.; 25. Stephen Denton; 26. Savannah Laflair; 27. Tanner Warner.

Did Not Qualify: AJ Digsby; Dave Richer; Tyler Bobar; Michael Wagner Fitzgerald; Zack Welch; EJ Gallup; Dylan Nichols; Pat Mann; Anthony Kimbel; Blake Sarpriacone; Matthew Richardson; Matt Perry; Ryan Behrent; John Dumond; Don Bellen; Nick Plumstead; Ed Downing; Jim Rothwell.

Next Generation Graphix Pro Stock Feature Finish (20 laps): 1. Luke Horning; 2. Bret Belden; 3. AJ Walters; 4. Devon Camenga; 5. Shane Playford; 6. Johnny Holmes; 7. Jim Normoyle; 8. 22-Tim Wood; 9. Mike Kazluaskas; 10. Steve Cosselman; 11. Ed Kotary; 12. Hunter Keith; 13. Mike Keith; 14. Gus Gould; 15. Jason Morrison; 16. Toby Cooper; 17. George Cushman.

Fastline Performance Limited Sportsman (15 laps): 1. Josh Coonradt; 2. Eric Jensen; 3. Carson Rothwell; 4. Andrew MacFadden; 5. Bobby Newman; 6. Maddy Broedel; 7. Matt Bukovan; 8. Corky Warner; 9. Jayden Wust; 10. Ernie Staelens; 11. Hayden Coons; 12. Brad Poppleton; 13. Lance Hill; 14. Kirsten Swartz; 15. Kadyn DePasquale.

Fonda Fair Four Cylinder Feature Finish (12 laps): 1. Corey Valade; 2. Dan Valade; 3. Rudy King Jr.; 4. John Napoli; 5. Wayne Russell, Jr.; 6. Bruce Liddle; 7. Kyle Coley; 8. TJ Marlitt; 9. Hank Wedgren Jr.; 10. Justin Pope; 11. Mike Matthews; 12. Jeff Connolly.

Did Not Start: Jacob Kimball; Hank Wedgren; Gary Wendall; Chris Bonoffski.

RUSH LATE MODELS AT MALTA

The RUSH crate late model series will make its initial appearance at Albany-Saratoga Speedway Friday night as part of its regular race program.

Friday’s program also includes $1,000-to-win features for the 602 Sportsman and Pro Stock divisions.

LEBANON VALLEY SEASON OPENER SATURDAY

After hosting a warm-up session last Saturday, Lebanon Valley Speedway is set to drop the green flag on its 72nd season of competition on the high banks.

Saturday’s program includes the Big Block Modifieds, Sportsman, Pro Stock and Street Stock divisions.

PRACTICE AT THE RIDGE

Glen Ridge Motorsports Park is scheduled to host an open practice session Sunday.

Gates and tech inspections start at noon, with the cars taking to the track starting at 2 p.m.

Grandstand admission is free, while pit admission will be $25.

Fuel will be available as well as a parts truck.

Drivers are reminded that all divisions will require transponders this season and are asked to pre-register their transponder numbers with My Race Pass if possible.